Listen to this note:
One vote can make the difference, especially if an election with thousands of votes ends in an exact tie.
It was just five votes that made the difference in the primary election to represent California's 16th congressional district.
In the primary election, the top two candidates move on to the November election. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo was the top vote-getter. California Assemblyman Evan Low and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitan tied for second with 30,249 votes each.
Following a second recount of the votes, the results determined that only Low would join Liccardo on the ballot for the November runoff election.
Although more than 30,000 votes were cast, the primary election was decided by only a few votes. Although many elections are not very close, election predictions change frequently. There is no accurate way to predict the results until the people vote.
County and city elections give voters the opportunity to weigh in on local politics and candidates that can have larger effects on everyday life. Additionally, these elections are often decided by much smaller margins than state or federal elections, making representation through voting even more important.
The power of voting goes beyond elections. Even if a candidate or measure you support doesn't win the election, the support you have will affect what happens next. The votes a candidate gets can inspire him or her to try again. Proposals can be modified and reintroduced.
It's easy to think that your vote doesn't matter. But the only way a vote doesn't really matter is when there aren't any votes at all.
More from the author: Voting requires communication to understand
